Disk wheel



R. P. MUSON.

DISK WHEEL APPLICATION min lum/23, 1919.

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2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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Patented sept. i2, i922..

UNITED STATES rma-4i AParri-:arr OFFICE.

ROBERT P. ALLISON, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

DISK EL.

Application led July 23,

proved means for securing the'disk portionto the hub and otherwise improve the construction along the general lines laid down in my aforesaid application. ln the various types of disk wheels now on the market, the inner periphery of the disk is usually fastened to a shoulder on the hub by ordinaryrstuds or by studs having counter-sunk heads. To be secure, the fastening must be absolutely rigid in the sense that there is no play whatever between the parts.

The fastening means, which is a feature of applicants invention, is of the demountable type, in that it makes the disk conveniently separable from the hub, so that the spare tire may to' advantage be carried mounted on a spare disk and applied by changing the disk. The fastening which is the subject of the invention referred to consists of an elongated substantially circularly arranged wedgershaped projection on one member entering a similarly elongated wedge shaped channel or groove on the other said member.

rThe applicant in the present instance has provided a thickened, reinforced portion or ring surrounding the central aperture in the disk in which the hub is to be seated. On this .reinforced or thickened portion or ring is a tapered or wedgeshaped bead or ridge arranged. in a circle concentric with the axis of the hub and disk. (lo-operating with the circularly arranged ridge or bead is a circularly arranged channel or socket in the hub surface. This is preferably of tapering cross-section substantially equal to the cross-section of the bead, it being understood that .the altitude of the ridge or bead and the depth of the socket are parallel to the axis of the wheel.

In the preferred form of the invention the parts have clearance at the apex and at the base of the bead or ridge, so that the inclined surfaces only of the two parts contact and these co-operate in a strictly wedge- 1919. Serial No. 312,804.v

like manner, giving a peculiarly, rigid and lpipscitive connection when the wheel is assem- In one form of the invention the disk is made of two'comparatively light-,pieces of sheet steel and the central ring or support is of steel or cast iron. The bead is formed on the ring and the ring being bolted to a convenient face of the hub having a correspondlngly tapering aperture, the fastening is complete. Y

ln other instances the disk is made of a sheet or sheets of metal thickened near the center. Under such circumstances the bead may be stamped in the sheet itself, i. e., the' sheet being stamped in the form of a ybead surrounding the central aperture. Under these circumstances a locking -'ring or bearing ring having, a similar beadto fit the channel formed in the plate in stamping the beads to maintain the form of the. sheet metal is used, the ring and the disk being bolted to the hub by a single set of studs. The disk itself, which is an important feature of the invention, has a frusto-conical central portion and a reverse curved peripherall portion, the reverse vcurved portion and the frusto-conical portion being intersected, near their central zones, by the central plane of the tread. Preferably, the

disk is of increasing thickness toward the centre.

In the accompanying drawing l have illustrated a plurality ofv forms of disk wheels embodying my invention and showing the manner of its application.

Figure 1 is a section through what is considered the preferred form of whl, the section being taken on the plane of the axis and radius.

Figure 2 is a similar section of a modii'ied form illustrating a dierent application and including a disk of di'erent formation from any previously illustrated in connection with this type of wheel.

Figure 3 is a similar view showing still another form, the principal di'erence being that the disk is made of a single piece of metal.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the wheel.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, the wheel includes any referredor convenient hub structure in 'cated by reference character 1, the same having a circular face or shoulder 2 at right angles to the axis, the vsaid flat surface or shoulder being lll@ formed with a circular or indentaftion 3 of crosshsection tapering toward the'- bottom. Suitably spaced along the groove are bolt or stud holes 4 preferably shouldered at 5 so that the end of the hole adjacent the disk is of greater diameter than thatnear the inner face of the hub.

As already stated, 'except for the essentials pointed out, the hub structure in general is immaterial and the applicants con- I struction may be applied to the front and reverse curve, p

rear wheels and to any type of bearing.

Referring particularly to Figure 1, have shown a disk construction closely resembling thatl in my previous application in that it is a disk which, as viewed ina section,

shallow or obtuse reinforced conical portion near the centre, so that the 'centre where the A greatest stresses occur is rigid while the periphery has a certain resiliency which permitsl it to'yield to the necessary degree, giv

ing to the wheel an elasticity which correspends to that of a wooden wheel;

The form of wheel'illustrated in Figure.

1 in the present application differs from that in the previous application in that while the central portion of the wheel is formed of two sheets of metal diverging toward the centre to give increased ri dity at this oint owing to the separation o the points o support of the two disks, the degree of separa.- tion of thel two sheets adjacent the hub'is much less in the present instance than in the previous. More particularly, thereI is a sheet metal disk 7 centrally apertured andsecured adjacent the aperture to the outer face of a peripheral rib 8 on a heavy metal supporting ring 6. From this ring the diskextends outwar in the form of a shallow cone 9 which starts on the outside of the central plane 10 of rotation and passes through this plane to a considerable distance on the inside of said plane of rotation. The outer zone of the disk is formed in a reverse curve 11 which passes back through the plane of rotation, and again turning, is formed at its periphery in a flat, cylindrical flange 12 which serves. as a felly and seat for the rim. 1-3. The reverse curve and particularly 1 the sharp' bend at 14 gives to the disk the necessary resiliency. .The reinforce 15, being shown as' of less diameter, is joined at its periphery to the inner face of the disk 7 preferably at the -first bend of the reverse curve, belng riveted or spot-welded at 16, and extends inward in the form of a shallow cone 17, diverging slightly from the conical II portion of the outer disk. This is aperpieces of 'sheet metal are in fact secured to the opposite faces of the rib 8 by means of rivets or bolts 18, each passing throughthe rib and through both metal sheets and having heads 19. The ring 6 as already suggested has a tapering ridge or bead 5 circullarlyv arranged to enter'and coperate with the groove 3 in the hub. It shouldbe noted as to the co-operating faces of the ring wlth the hub 3 that the parts are formed to provide a clearance between the surfaces ofthe two parts both lat the'point4 of the bead at 8 and between the surfaces adjacent the base of the bead at 5'; preferably, the only point of contact between the hub and the ringl 6 1s at the converging sides of the bea so that the engagement between the l 4:arts is entirely the co-operation of a ta erihgY wedge anda tapering socket. wedge-like engagement is maintained by means of studs 20 in the shouldered apertures 4, 5.y The studs are correspondingly A shouldered, being th-rust\into the aperture in. the hub and fastened b means of the nuts 21, when the disk, w ich is suitably apertured to receive the opposite ends of the studs, is passed over the projecting ends of these studs on the outer surface of the' hub and fastened by means of nuts 22. It will be noted that the studs are shouldered o r reduced at the otter as well as the inner end at 23, the shoulders being preferably bevelled as indicated. The central enlargement provides resistance to driving torque.

In Figure 2 I have shown a wheel conv sisting of a single, central, conically formed sheet or. disk and a thin reverse curved peripheral member 27, the two being secured together along the inner zone of the reverse curve at 28, the securing means being either spot-welding or riveting as preferred. The disk 26 has a central aperture 29 for the hub. This disk has already been referred to as tapered, as a matter of fact it tapers in the sense that the thickness is increased from the periphery' toward the centre. This gives an effect in a measure corresponding to the twodiverging members 7, 15 in the previous figure i. e.,.excess rigidity nearthe centre of the wheel. In the present instance the portion ofthe disk adjacent the central aperture, instead of being cast or drop forged with a solid bead orv rib as in the revious structure, is stamped to form a holow bead 30 on'the inner or rear face of the disk with a corresponding groove or channel 31 on the outer face of the disk surrounding the opening. This bead 30 fits in a circular groove or channel of ta ering cross-section `indicated by reference .c aracter 32 in the hub, the same being circularly arranged and concentric with the axis of the hub. Fitting the groove 3l, formed by distorting the plate for the purposes of forming the bead 30, is a bead or rib 33 on a retaining ring 34 which overlies the periphery of the disk when secured to the hub. This ring is fastened by means of studs 35 similar in form and arrangement to the studs 20 in the previous figure.

`In Figure 3 I have shown a wheel which in its principle of construction is similar to the wheel shown in Figure 2, that is, the reverse, curved disk portion 40 is like the corresponding portion of the wheel shown in Figure 2. lt is of tapering and increasing thickness from the periphery to the centre,

and the connectionto the central ring is acl .complished as in the previous structure, that is, the disk is stamped adjacent the central aperture to form a hollow bead or ridge 30 with a corresponding groove 31 on the outer face of the disk, the bead or rib 30 fitting in a corresponding, circular groove or channel 32 in the hub, and there is a retaining ring 34 with a rib 33 which overlies the inner periphery of the disk around the opening, the rib 33 fitting in the groove 31 which is formed by the distortion of the disk in the formation ofthe bead 30. The distinguishing feature of this structure by which it differs from that shown in Figure 2 is the formation of the disk 4:0 in a single piece, the radial cross-section of which is tapered, i. e., reduced in thickness from the central aperture to the peripheral Zone.

rllhe construction and operation have, it is believed, been made clear in connection with the description of the form of the device.

' The invention includes a wheel construction consisting of a sheet metal disk having a frusto-conical centre and va reverse curved periphery, the frusto-conical portion and the reverse curved portion, respectively, being intersected, near their central zones, by the central plane of the tread, so as to distribute the stresses equally and eliminate the cantilever effect, tending, in some instances, to tear the disk from the hub, the disk also having a central aperture for the' hub and preferably with fastening means of the demountable type connecting the disk to the hub consisting of a circularly arranged wedge shaped projection on one member concentric with the axis to co-operate withl a corresponding wedge-shaped circular channel in the other member.

In the preferred form the disk member is tapered and reduced in thickness from a point adjacent the aperture to the periphery.

Preferably the reverse curve portion adjacent the periphery is turned sharply backward on va small radius, a portion of which is nearly parallel to the cylindrical outer edge, the parallel portion having an aperture for the valve ca through which it is inserted when fastene in place on the valve stem, the same being therefore as conveniently accessible or even more conveniently than in the case of -a wood, wire, yor iron spoke wheel. l

I have thus described specifically and in detail a preferred form and certain modified forms of my invention in order that the preferred construction and obvious variations thereof may be clearly understood; however. the specific terms herein are used descriptively rather1 than in their limitin sense, the scope of the invention being de ned in the claims.

What l claim and desire to secure by Let-4 ters Patentis:

l. ln a wheel for road vehicles, having a hub and a demountable sheet metal supportl ing member therefor, means for demountably connecting the, hub to the sheet metal member, consisting of a circularly arranged wedge and a correspondingly shaped channel, circularly arranged to receive the wedge; and means for drawing the wedge into the channel to hold the parts in rigid engagement,

2. In a wheel for road vehicles, a hub, a disk having a central, conical portion, and a peripheral reverse curved portion, the conical portion and the reverse curved portion bein intersected intermediately, near their central zones, by the central plane of the tread, `the thickness of the disk increasing' toward the centre.

3. lin a wheel for road vehicles, a hub, a disk having a central, conical portion and a peripheral reverse curved portion, both of said portions bein intersected, near their central zones, by t e central plane of the 105 tread, the disk having a central aperture to receive and 'admit the hub, demountable means for connecting the disk to the hub consisting of a circularly arranged-wedge and a circularly arranged channel to receive 110 the wedge.

4. ln a wheel disk having'a peripheral reverse curved portion intersected intermediately by the central plane of the tread, a central conically arranged portion of increas- 115 ing thickness toward the centre and means for securing the disk to a hub.

5. A. wheel disk having a peripheral reverse curved portion, a central conically arranged portion of increasing thickness to- 120 ward the centre, said portions being substantially equally distributed on opposite sides of the central plane of the tread; and demountable means for securing the disk to a hub, consisting of circularly arranged wedge 125 surfaces.

In a wheel for road vehicles, a hub, a sheet metal hub supporting member, means for demountably securing the sheet metal member tothe hub consisting of a circularly it@ :for demountably .securing arranged Wedge .carried by the sheet metal member, a circularl -arranged wedge shaped channel on the ub, and studs parallel to the axis" passing through both members to hold the Wedge in the channel.

7. In a Wheel for road vehicles, a hub, a sheet metal hub .supporting member, means y the sheet metal .member to the hub consistnig of a circularly arranged wedge carried by the sheet metal member, a -circularl arranged Wedge shaped kchannel lon the hub, the parts having clearance at the :a ex the base of the Wed e, ing the parts toget er to force the wedge into the channel.

'8. In a road vehicle wheel, a hub and a sheet metal ysupper-tin member for the hub,

means for demountab y securing the sheetmetal member to the hub consisting of an elon ated' Wedge and a corresponding elonf ated wedge .shaped channel, means for drawing the parts together to force the wedge into the channel, the parts having vclearance at the apex lof the Wedge and the -base of Ithe wedge.

.9. a road vehicle, a hub and a d emoimtable sheet metal supportin member :for the hub, means for demounta ly securo the W'edge and at. and means for drawing the sheet metal member to the hub consisting of an elongated wedge and l. correspondmgly arranged elongated wedge s aped channel to receive the wedge, and means for drawing the parts togetherto force the wedge into the channel.

10. In a wheel for road'vehicles, a hub; a disk adapted to be secured to and extendmg outward from the hub, the disk having 4a central truste-conical portion and a peand 4hub for locking said wheel in osition thereon and permitting its remova there-v from.

Signed by me at Baltimore, Maryland, tlus 22nd day of July), 1919.

ROB RT P. ALLISON. Witnesses:

EMMA Ammann, EMMA WEHMEYER. 

